348

SECRET
POLICY COMMITTEE
Tuesday, October 1st 1940

Present :

Minister

D.G.

D.D.G.

D.S.

P.S.

Sir Kenneth Clark

Mr. Macadam

Mr. Fraser

Lord Davidson

Mr. Radcliffe

Mr. Hodson

Professor Harlow

Mr. Leigh Ashton

Mr. Beddington

Mr. Wellington

Mr. Gates

Mr. Wiltshire (Secretary)

Mr. Ogilvie

Mr. Ryan

Mr. Valentine Williams

1. The minutes of the last meeting were approved.

2. EMPIRE CAMPAIGN

The paper circulated was read. In commenting on the paper Mr. Hodson thought it advisable not to link the campaign too closely to war aims. The campaign itself should help to prepare the public for the emergence of war aims, but he thought it a mistake to attempt to formulate them as part of the first stage of the campaign. The point should also be made that the strength of the Imperial effort was derived from its freedom of choice.

The Director General explained that the intention was that for the first period, say ten weeks, the aspect of the British Commonwealth should be stressed. Then after a suitable pause the campaign should restart with a new orientation designed to show that all freedom loving nations should be forced by the same arguments that applied to the members of the British Commonwealth to associate themselves with those members to the common end. This phase might last about eight weeks, and would then carry us through until Spring when the world situation might be expected to take a different shape. The campaign was to begin formally next Monday, and should be inaugurated by a broadcast. After discussion it was decided that Professor Coatman's address should stand and that further consideration should be given to broadcasts by the Minister, and the Secretaries of State for the Dominions, Colonies and India, which might well take place at times during the first stage.

The Minister pointed out that such criticisms as would be addressed to the campaign would ask whether it was necessary and whether we should not devote energy and money to more important needs, such as provision of shelters. Lord Davidson pointed out that the criticism would come from a quarter which had long tried to suggest that the Imperial idea itself was a bad thing. He thought it would be of value if the campaign helped to clear away the misconception in the public mind about the status of the Dominions and Colonies. The Parliamentary Secretary in agreeing pointed out that emphasis should be laid on the great evolution of ideas which was going on, in particular since the outbreak of this war, in relation to the Colonies as well as to the Dominions. The Deputy Secretary suggested that there should be a hint in the campaign that the Imperial idea was 349 - 2 -also entirely bound up with the winning of the war. Mr. Valentine Williams observed that the broadcasts to Germany recently had stressed that the young people of the world were with us, and he thought that this theme might well appear in the campaign

In answer to the Minister's question whether all Divisions were ready for the Campaign, Mr. Beddington pointed out that the films in preparation would not be ready for some weeks, but this was thought to be immaterial. It was agreed that a paper should be circulated on Friday, to be agreed between Mr. Fraser and Mr. Hodson and to be seen by the Minister, explaining the object of the campaign in order to avoid any further misconceptions. The paper would be based on that circulated, but would be in a form more suitable for the purpose.

In the course of the discussion the Director General suggested that attention should be paid to the question of public health. Lord Horder and other people ought to broadcast on how to keep healthy during the winter. Mr. Ogilvie said that a good deal was being done and he had also spoken to the Minister of Health.

3. BANNING OF PERIODICALS FOR EXPORT

The paper circulated was discussed. The Minister observed that the Foreign Office now apparently had views against the lifting of the export ban on subversive publications, and had in particular asked that the ban should be reimposed on “The Voice of Spain”. He felt that it would be difficult to go against the Foreign Office view in this matter. The Deputy Secretary suggested that the Ministry had some administrative responsibility, but that if our views were overridden the Foreign Office (or other Offices who had adverse views) should be made responsible for defending their attitude. It was pointed out that Sir Maurice Peterson, who was not present, was also inclined to view the lifting of the ban with disfavour. After discussion the Minister decided that the Committee should not come to a decision without hearing Sir Maurice Peterson's view, and in the meantime letters should be written to the Foreign Office and other departments concerned giving reasons for our thinking that the time had come to lift the ban and explaining that we proposed to do so, after having considered any Representations they wished to make.

4. PRODUCTION OF FILMS BY THE MINISTRY

The paper circulated was read and approved. Sir Kenneth Clark pointed out that the films to be shown on Friday were not representative of programmes which would be exhibited. They would only be those films which were to be in the programme in conformity with our understanding with the Film Trade that we should exhibit films which would not otherwise be shown in ordinary theatres.

5. OTHER BUSINESS

The Minister enquired from Mr. Ogilvie whether it had been necessary to cut down foreign broadcasting still further and whether any other moves had taken place. Mr. Ogilvie replied that the only move that had taken place since the last meeting of the Policy Committee had been that of the Indian Section. No languages had been dropped from the programme, and it was hoped 350 - 3 -ultimately to expand again. During the discussion Mr. Valentine Williams suggested that the enemy propaganda authorities should be consulted by the B.B.C. before any further alterations took place, since by re-arrangement it had proved to be possible to get a little more time than they had had before for their German broadcasts. He thought that by collaboration better use could be made of available programme space. Mr. Leigh Ashton stated that a Standing Committee had been set up between the Foreign and Broadcasting Divisions to consider the allocation of programmes. In conclusion Mr. Ogilvie pointed out the physical difficulties involved which might make it necessary to act very rapidly without the consultation which the Foreign Division and also the Foreign Office asked for. This, however, would always be carried out when it was possible to do so.